PUTRAJAYA: The hearing of a lawyer's appeal in the Court of Appeal to challenge the imposition of departure levy on Malaysians travelling overseas was postponed today as the senior federal counsel in charge of the case was unwell.
R. Kengadharan's counsel Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram informed the three-member panel in online court proceedings that Suzana Atan was taken ill and had to be admitted to hospital.
"I have, unfortunately, to move for an adjournment (of the hearing) on her (Suzana's) behalf," said Sri Ram, who requested for the matter to be sent for case management today.
When asked by Justice Datuk Yaacob Md Sam, who chaired the panel, federal counsel V. Krishna Priya confirmed that Suzana, who is the lead counsel, was unwell. Both Krisha and Suzana are representing the Finance Minister and the government.
"We send this matter for case management for a new hearing date to be fixed. We will direct for an earlier hearing date to be assigned for this case," said Justice Yaacob, who presided with Justices Datuk Azizah Nawawi and Datuk M. Gunalan.
When contacted by Bernama, lawyer A. Srimurugan, who is assisting Sri Ram in the appeal, said the hearing was fixed for Jan 4 next year following case management before deputy registrar Radzilawatee Abdul Rahman today.
He said the appeal would revolve around an important issue on whether a Malaysian citizen has the right to travel abroad and that they would seek to revisit the Loh Wai Kong case law in the light of recent developments in several case laws decided by the Federal Court.
On Feb 27, 2020, High Court judge Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya (now Court of Appeal judge) dismissed the lawsuit filed by Kengadharan against the Finance Minister and the government after ruling that she was bound by the Federal Court decisions in the Damansara Member of Parliament and Loh Wai Kong cases, where it ruled that the right to travel abroad was not an absolute right.
In his originating summons filed in the High Court in August 2019, Kengadharan said the Departure Levy Act 2018 and the Departure Levy Order 2019 were in breach of his fundamental right to travel and sought a declaration that the orders breach Article 5 (1) of the Federal Constitution and cannot be enforced.
In his affidavit to support the suit, Kengadharan also said any form of tax imposed, including on those who wish to go on a pilgrimage or to perform the haj, was a violation of fundamental liberties.
Kengadharan also said any imposition of a departure tax, in addition to the existing service and airport taxes, would be burdensome and harsh.
On Aug 2, 2019, then finance minister Lim Guan Eng said travellers going out of the country would have to pay between RM8 and RM150 in departure levies beginning Sept 1, 2019.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed Aug 17 2022
R. Kengadharan's counsel Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram informed the three-member panel in online court proceedings that Suzana Atan was taken ill and had to be admitted to hospital. - Filepic
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pembangunan anak muda, wanita menjadi fokus Pang
Agenda pembangunan anak muda dan wanita akan menjadi fokus utama calon PH Pang Sock Tao, pada PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Kerajaan tidak bercadang gantung sementara helikoper Fennec, HOM
Kerajaan setakat ini tidak bercadang untuk menggantung sementara perkhidmatan helikopter jenis Fennec dan HOM.
Kejohanan Dunia Boling Padang: Tiga gangsa dalam tangan, misi tukar warna pingat
Skuad boling padang negara layak ke pusingan separuh akhir dalam kesemua kategori yang dipertandingkan di Kejohanan Dunia Dalam Dewan 2024.
Amerika Syarikat mungkin haramkan firma dron China, DJI
Amerika Syarikat kini turut sedang pertimbangkan DJI sebagai ancaman sekuriti, dan mungkin melakukan perundangan untuk mengharamkan DJI.
Bersatu ambil tindakan susulan terhadap enam ahli Parlimen - Muhyiddin
Bersatu sedang melaksanakan tindakan susulan terhadap enam ahli Parlimennya yang menyokong Perdana Menteri selepas meminda Perlembagaan parti bulan lalu.
'Made in Malaysia' - Apple punyai 19 kilang pembekal di negara ini
Malaysia merupakan salah satu negara yang mempunyai beberapa kilang pembekal yang menawarkan komponen kepada Apple.
SPRM lancar bilik gerakan PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
SPRM melancarkan bilik gerakan, bagi membolehkan orang ramai menyalurkan maklumat serta aduan berkaitan perbuatan rasuah dan salah guna kuasa.
WEF anjur mesyuarat khas di Arab Saudi ketika suhu geopolitik Asia Barat memanas
WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28-29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Kerajaan rangka hala tuju beri lebih banyak perlindungan kepada kanak-kanak
Kerajaan akan merangka hala tuju bagi memberikan lebih banyak perlindungan dari segi undang-undang kepada kanak-kanak di negara ini.
Tiada tepung di pasaran tempatan mengandungi benzoil peroksida melebihi kadar dibenarkan - KKM
Tiada mana-mana jenama tepung di pasaran tempatan mengandungi benzoil peroksida melebihi paras yang dibenarkan di bawah undang-undang.